Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello old friends.

Does anyone have real experience and thoughts on the keeping of V. melinus? I see so many for sale and yet I can't seem to find much information on this species in captivity.

Thanks for your time.

These animal comes from a complex that is known to have many shy members. I would keep them setup with a cage full of branches and coverage.My cage is pretty fluttered with bamboo sticks and leaf litter.

As for being tracked out in the wild, they were reported to have outings of about 45 minutes to a couple hours. Im able to get about 4 to 6 hours out of him each day.

pic

Thanks for the picture, great looking melinus.

I really like the Indo species & the ones that a lot of people overlook. Melinus don't seem to be too popular. Do you handle yours or give him time outside his enclosure?

Having him out is a treat. I never force it out of the cage. When I get a chance to actually tong feed it, I'll lure it onto my hand or arm, hoping it's stomache will do the thinking instead of its brain. I do not handle it when it's out, more so of letting him climb my walls and window seal. This is a tropical species and about 15 minutes after being out, you can tell it gets restless and the skin starts to get a little dry. I appreciate it from the cage and thats pretty much it. This lizard saw my dogs and hid for 3 days straight. If I were to go in and dig him up...I will NEVER be able to bond with him. Monitors love to carry grudges and will do so if messed with.

FYI, Indicus types are not easy by any means. So far out of the species ive been able to work with...they prove to be the most difficult, and mischievious. If you're looking for a monitor that will tolerate some mistakes, go with another complex outside of the mangrove types. YOU WILL BE DISAPOINTED if you go with one(because of your intensions to hold monitors). I have to be laying on my bed(pretending im dead) to be able to get him to come out. Once everyone is up and about at 10 oclock...he is gone for the rest of the day. I so far have NEVER seen him out passed 1 pm, pacific time.
They are early risers and usually stay away from the heat of the day.

You may not soak this information in now, but if you do go ahead and get an indicus type, you will know. Try something that will break you in on monitor keeping. Ackies would be a great choice for starters. If you can support a larger monitor, argus might be another choice.

Thank you for such a well thought out and informitive reply. That means a lot. I am no stranger to monitor keeping believe you me. I just have never worked with the indicus sp. and I really enjoy talking about them & hearing about other peoples experinces. They sound really enjoyable & somewhat trying to keep.

Thanks so much. Gene